Prep Notebook

Doc 4 Life Varsity Showdown has grown over the years

Columbia's #18 Keeley Murray gets a high five from North Marion's third baseman #11 Brooke Gonzalez after Murray hit a home run during the Doc 4 Life Varsity Showdown last weekend.

Doug Engle/Ocala Star-Banner

By Richard BurtonCorrespondent

Published: Monday, April 8, 2013 at 4:08 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 8, 2013 at 4:08 p.m.

Following his team's 7-1 win over Ponte Vedra on Saturday, Belleview softball coach Gary Greer was feeling good about what the Doc 4 Life Varsity Showdown has become over the years.

"It's really grown and I thought this year's tournament was very good," said Greer, whose team won the silver championship in the Diamondback Division, which featured seven state-ranked programs out of the eight participating schools.

The Rattlers (16-6) were one of five ranked programs from Class 5A in the field, joining North Marion, Jacksonville Creekside, Ponte Vedra and Brooksville Hernando.

To illustrate how tough the field was, Creekside and North Marion entered the field ranked No. 2 and 9 respectively in the Miracle Sports All Class Poll and second and third in Class 5A.

Creekside, though, was dealt a loss on the first day by Naples, ranked No. 7 in Class 6A, a team that lost 7-6 in the Gold Finals of the Diamondback Division to Lake City Columbia, Class 6A's No. 5 team.

Meanwhile, North Marion faced a gauntlet of three straight ranked teams (Ponte Vedra, Columbia and Hernando), which it suffered defeats to by a combined four runs.

NEW DISTRICTS: When the FHSAA released football districts earlier this year, it caused quite a bit of chatter.

Recently, it announced tentative new districts for basketball and volleyball.

Here's a look at the pairings.

District 8A-1 — West Port will be joined by Flagler Palm Coast, as well as Jacksonville First Coast, Jacksonville Mandarin and Jacksonville Sandalwood.

District 6A-6 — Forest, Lake Weir and Vanguard are paired up with Lake Minneola, Lecanto, Leesburg and South Lake.

District 5A-5 — Belleview, Dunnellon and North Marion have been placed with Citrus, Crystal River and Gainesville Eastside.

District 4A-6 — Trinity Catholic is paired with Hudson, New Port Richey Ridgewood, Bushnell South Sumter and The Villages.

District 1A-3 — St. John Lutheran and Meadowbrook will be joined by Lecanto Seven Rivers Christian, Leesburg First Academy and Gainesville Cornerstone.

MCIAC EVENTS: As the school year finally gets into the final nine weeks, the last of the Marion County Interscholastic Athletic Conference meets are right around the corner.

On Friday, Vanguard will go for a three-peat in the MCIAC Boys Weightliftng Meet at Forest High School.

Then on April 20, West Port will host the MCIAC Flag Football Championships.

<p>Following his team's 7-1 win over Ponte Vedra on Saturday, Belleview softball coach Gary Greer was feeling good about what the Doc 4 Life Varsity Showdown has become over the years.</p><p>"It's really grown and I thought this year's tournament was very good," said Greer, whose team won the silver championship in the Diamondback Division, which featured seven state-ranked programs out of the eight participating schools.</p><p>The Rattlers (16-6) were one of five ranked programs from Class 5A in the field, joining North Marion, Jacksonville Creekside, Ponte Vedra and Brooksville Hernando.</p><p>To illustrate how tough the field was, Creekside and North Marion entered the field ranked No. 2 and 9 respectively in the Miracle Sports All Class Poll and second and third in Class 5A.</p><p>Creekside, though, was dealt a loss on the first day by Naples, ranked No. 7 in Class 6A, a team that lost 7-6 in the Gold Finals of the Diamondback Division to Lake City Columbia, Class 6A's No. 5 team.</p><p>Meanwhile, North Marion faced a gauntlet of three straight ranked teams (Ponte Vedra, Columbia and Hernando), which it suffered defeats to by a combined four runs.</p><p><b>NEW DISTRICTS:</b> When the FHSAA released football districts earlier this year, it caused quite a bit of chatter.</p><p>Recently, it announced tentative new districts for basketball and volleyball.</p><p>Here's a look at the pairings.</p><p><b>District 8A-1 —</b> West Port will be joined by Flagler Palm Coast, as well as Jacksonville First Coast, Jacksonville Mandarin and Jacksonville Sandalwood.</p><p><b>District 6A-6 —</b> Forest, Lake Weir and Vanguard are paired up with Lake Minneola, Lecanto, Leesburg and South Lake.</p><p><b>District 5A-5 —</b> Belleview, Dunnellon and North Marion have been placed with Citrus, Crystal River and Gainesville Eastside.</p><p><b>District 4A-6 —</b> Trinity Catholic is paired with Hudson, New Port Richey Ridgewood, Bushnell South Sumter and The Villages.</p><p><b>District 1A-3 —</b> St. John Lutheran and Meadowbrook will be joined by Lecanto Seven Rivers Christian, Leesburg First Academy and Gainesville Cornerstone.</p><p><b>MCIAC EVENTS:</b> As the school year finally gets into the final nine weeks, the last of the Marion County Interscholastic Athletic Conference meets are right around the corner.</p><p>On Friday, Vanguard will go for a three-peat in the MCIAC Boys Weightliftng Meet at Forest High School.</p><p>Then on April 20, West Port will host the MCIAC Flag Football Championships.</p>